MADEIRA

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Madeira mean? 

• MADEIRA (noun)
  The noun MADEIRA has 3 senses:

1. a Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River

2. an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa; the largest of the Madeira Islands

3. an amber dessert wine from the Madeira Islands

  Familiarity information: MADEIRA used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MADEIRA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

Madeira; Madeira River

Instance hypernyms:

river (a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek))

Holonyms ("Madeira" is a part of...):

Brasil; Brazil; Federative Republic of Brazil (the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa; the largest of the Madeira Islands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Instance hypernyms:

island (a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water)

Holonyms ("Madeira" is a part of...):

Madeira Islands; Madeiras (a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Morocco; the group forms an autonomous region of Portugal)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An amber dessert wine from the Madeira Islands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("Madeira" is a kind of...):

fortified wine (wine to which alcohol (usually grape brandy) has been added)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "Madeira"):

malmsey (sweet Madeira wine)

 Context examples 

Another slice of cold meat, another draught of Madeira and water, will make you nearly on a par with the rest of us.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Merely to tell you that your uncle, Mr. Eyre of Madeira, is dead; that he has left you all his property, and that you are now rich—merely that—nothing more.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It is native to Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Madeira and the Azores, and is naturalized in many parts of the world, notably North America and Australia.

(Hypericum perforatum, NCI Thesaurus)

Edmund said no more to either lady; but going quietly to another table, on which the supper-tray yet remained, brought a glass of Madeira to Fanny, and obliged her to drink the greater part.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

My uncle in Madeira is dead, and he left me five thousand pounds.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"You, madam," said he, "are cleared from all blame: your uncle will be glad to hear it—if, indeed, he should be still living—when Mr. Mason returns to Madeira."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

An island thousands of miles off, where they make wine—the butler did tell me—"Madeira?" I suggested.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

My mother's name was Eyre; she had two brothers; one a clergyman, who married Miss Jane Reed, of Gateshead; the other, John Eyre, Esq., merchant, late of Funchal, Madeira.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Were I not morally certain that your uncle will be dead ere you reach Madeira, I would advise you to accompany Mr. Mason back; but as it is, I think you had better remain in England till you can hear further, either from or of Mr. Eyre.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

When your uncle received your letter intimating the contemplated union between yourself and Mr. Rochester, Mr. Mason, who was staying at Madeira to recruit his health, on his way back to Jamaica, happened to be with him.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)